WEEk of DEcEmbEr 13, 2023 FLIER INSIDE
Special delivery Island Kiwanis Club presents World Atlases to 4th graders at PIE — INSIDE pINEISlaND-EaglE.com
VolumE 47, NumbEr 32
Lee County DOT continues to gather information from islanders on 4-way-stop at Pine Island and Stringfellow By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Over 150 Pine Islanders attending a public forum Thursday, Dec. 7, at Pine Island Elementary School hosted by the Lee County Department of Transportation, which was on site to answer questions, as well as gather information islanders about what change, if any, they might prefer at the intersection of Pine Island Road and Stringfellow Road. The county has evaluated the cost of possible changes at the intersection, which include, existing conditions
(no change), a traffic signal,or a roundabout. Although there is currently no safety reason forcing the issue, said DOT Deputy Director, Rob Price. “The intersection itself is functioning acceptably now, we don’t have a major safety issue that we’re trying to address. This was a request — for us to analyze the intersection for potential improvements,” Price said. No decision has been made yet, and there is still time to make a comment or suggestion online. The public forum last Thursday was simply one of the steps, Price explained, to provide residents with some understanding
of analysis findings. The general consensus, so far, indicates a majority by residents not to change the intersection at this point. “We got some interesting feedback on some other aspects of traffic in Pine Island…it will be interesting to see what kind of comments we get beyond just the intersection of Pine Island and Stringfellow Road…it sounds like we’ve got a lot of people who want the intersection to remain the same and we think that that’s OK for a See 4-WAY-STOP, page 12
Beacon of Hope’s 14th annual Holiday House — another great success
Florida League of Cities rep discusses incorporation at GPICA meeting
By PAULETTE LeBLANC
By PAULETTE LeBLANC
Beacon of Hope board member Elsie Stearns said this year’s Holiday House Event at the Tarpon Lodge was as amazing as it was well attended. In all, she said there were over 800 people, spanning the three day event. Stearns said many islanders told her that this has become a beloved island tradition. “I’d like to especially thank our Fire District for providing Santa and Mrs. Clause a ride by fire boat. I always get excited when I see Santa coming and, of course, we had so many different organizations —the elementary school, Bobby Holloway, the Matlacha Hookers, the American Legion, Amanda Jones did the face painting, the Fire Department cooked hot dogs for the kids, DJ Frankie did an amazing job with the linedancing. I think it was really a good time had by all,” Stearns said. The Tree Auction, she said, brought in just under $10,000 this year, with Four Winds Marina topping the bids, with its tree, once again. All vendors donated baskets, with items ranging from artwork to jewelry, with 100% of proceeds going to the Beacon.
The Greater Pine Island Civic Association invited Lynn Tipton, director from the Florida League of Cities University, to speak to members about how incorporation occurs. The Florida League of Cities is a statewide association for a city, town or village, she said, which Florida Constitution says is a municipality. The organization is neutral on whether or not a municipality decides to incorporate, she emphasized. The League is a non-partisan organization and they do not advocate for or against incorporation. They merely provide education about municipal government and point people toward resources. “Municipal incorporations have not been a priority issue for the Florida Legislature. The Florida Legislature has not prioritized the hearing of municipal incorporation studies and special acts,” Tipton said. Tipton described the entire process as democracy in action at the local level, sharing that some communities study the process and walk away, while others choose to move forward with incorporation. Florida’s State Constitution has four local governments -- counties, school districts, special districts and municipalities. While the first three are state created and non-optional, municipalities are optional.
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
See HOLIDAY HOUSE, page 13
PAULETTE LEBLANC
Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Holiday House.
See INCORPORATION, page 16
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